Accident is a 1984 Indian Kannada-language crime drama film produced & directed by Shankar Nag. The film stars Shankar Nag, Anant Nag, Arundhati Nag, Ramesh Bhat, Ashok Mandanna, Srinivas Prabhu and T. S. Nagabharana. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, while cinematography and editing were handled by Devadhar and P. Bhaktavatsalam.[1]
Deepak is the spoiled son of a powerful politician Dharmadhikari. One night, Deepak runs his car over pavement dwellers under the influence of drugs and alcohol, where the dwellers are killed, except Ramanna, who identifies the driver. Rahul, Deepak's friend and the son of an ad agency chief, was with him during the accident. Rahul gets deeply traumatized due to the shock of the accident, where he shares the truth with his mother Maya Rani. Maya implores Dharmadhikari to save them. Dharmadhikari, who is slated to win a by-election, cannot afford to let this accident ruin his political ambitions. Dharmadhikari hushes up the case with the help of CM and sends Deepak on a trip abroad. Inspector Rao takes charge of the case as an investigative officer. Ravi, a daring news reporter, joins Rao in investigate the case together. When Rao identifies the culprits, Dharmadhikari asks his retired driver to tell that he was driving the car. As a result of the events that have transpired, Rao is asked to go on leave and Ravi's editor refuses to run the story. Ravi tries to assassinate Dharmadhikari to seek justice, but he backs out and moralises that violent does not solve problems. Deepak, who is leaving to the airport, dies in an accident.
Accident was produced in two months. While filming the climax, Anant Nag, who was playing Dharmadhikari, was to be shot in the courtyard of his house as he had wanted to base it around the assassination of Indira Gandhi, but Shankar Nag did not agree and changed the ending of the film.[2]
The film won the first National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues at the 32nd National Film Awards in 1985.[3] It also won multiple awards at the 1984–85 Karnataka State Film Awards including the award for First Best Film. The film was praised for placing a politician against justice system and media revealing the nexus between politics and drug mafia.[4]